SquashLevels hopes its new 'Find A Match' tool will replicate the stunning impact of similar technology that has helped make padel a social phenomenon.
As the name suggests, 'Find A Match' allows any player registered on SquashLevels to find an opponent of similar level within a set geographical location.
Users can set the level range, age category and club, county and country of their desired opponent. It's essentially a dating app but with a great squash match as the end goal, rather than romance.
For frequent travellers, it will be easier to find a well-matched opponent when in an unfamilar city or country. On a local level, it will also simplify the process of finding opponents outside of your usual circle.
'Find A Match' was initially offered to premium subscribers only, but has now been opened up for all 55,000 players registered on Squash Levels at no added cost.
SquashLevels co-founder and Co-CEO, Jethro Binns, said: “It's something we’ve chosen to keep open to everyone.
“The more people playing, the better it is for the sport as a whole.”
Binns hopes 'Find A Match' can have a similar effect on squash as comparable technology has had on padel.
So-called 'open matches' on apps such as Playtomic, Nettla, Padel Mates and Matchi allow people to find playing partners and opponents of a purportedly similar level, and book a court with such ease that players' social networks grow rapidly and participation levels multiply.
This process only works, however, if it is underpinned by a reliable ratings system. The system used by Playtomic, who have a market share of over 80% in padel, is criticised for its lack of sophistication, and many of its competitors use similar systems.
When first registering on Playtomic, users are asked to self-rate by answering a few questions about their skill level. This inevitably varies in accuracy, which can lead to precious (and expensive) court time being wasted on playing with or against people of unsuitable standards.
After a while, this can cause slightly more experienced players to avoid open matches altogether and retreat into Whatsapp groups with regular partners, and thus padel's socially viral frameworks breaks down.
Playtomic's recent partnership with DUPR, the system used widely in pickleball, could be seen as tacit acknowledgement that its own ratings system needs fine-tuning.
SquashLevels, however, is one of the most highly respected ratings systems in the racket sports industry.
With its unique algorithm underpinning it, Find A Match has the potential to go much further than just helping two randoms get a good game.
"Find A Match will definitely evolve," said Binns. "We could create league structure where we arrange the matches. Users could set their frequency and a deadline and we do the matchmaking, so leagues exist outside of the confines of clubs or local associations.
"There's also potential connect directly with court booking platforms to create a seamless user experience, as padel does. The possibilities are endless really."
All this is only possible if it's underpinned by an accurate and trusted ratings system, and squash is fortunate indeed to have such a world-leading framework.
Binns added: "The success of SquashLevels is built on more and more matches going into the system, so the Find A Match tool is designed to facilitate better match-ups and therefore create more matches.
"It's simply trying to encourage more play, get people excited and engaged at lower levels of the spectrum. That's what padel has done so effectively and I think this can achieve the same outcome."
